• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.468-477
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• 2009

To evaluate the current indoor air quality condition of private academic facilities in Korea and investigate its association with subjective symptoms of student residing at the same academic facilities, air quality monitoring was carried out in total of 20 academic facilities located in Seoul, Daejon and Chungnam from the beginning of January to the end of April, 2009. To assess the air quality condition of academic facilities, 6 air pollutants with temperature and humidity were measured simultaneously inside and outside of academic facilities. The rate of exceeding the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) guideline concentrations in 6 air pollutants were 5%, 85%, 15%, 5%, 10% and 30% for CO, $CO_2$, PM10, HCHO, TVOCs and TBC, respectively. A questionnaire on 16 subjective symptoms related to indoor air quality was given to 342 students who studied at the 20 academic facilities. The most frequent symptom of students was 'I feel easily tired or sleepy', and this was followed by 'I feel muscular pain or stiffness on shoulder, back and neck'. The association of net difference (subjective symptoms at the academic facility - subjective symptoms of the usual situation) with air pollutants was analyzed using spearman rank correlation. In logistic analysis using proportional odds method, the students whose indoor air concentration of HCHO was ${\geq}60{\mu}g/m^3$ hadsignificant odds of having more subjective symptoms of 'My eyes are dry or feel irritated or itching' (OR=5.026: CI=1.587-15.911), 'I feel easily tired or sleepy' (OR=2.956: CI=1.072-8.152), 'I lose my concentration and I feel my memory is falling' (OR=7.745: CI=1.938-30.955) and 'I feel dizzy' (OR=4.424: CI=1.292-15.149) than those of <$60{\mu}g/m^3$.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.36
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• pp.281-299
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to examine the association between personal, housing, program, and service characteristics and quality of life among persons with severe mental illness living in supported housing. A cross sectional survey of a random sample of 237 clients residing in supported housing in Philadelphia was used to assess the association between personal and environmental characteristics, and quality of life. Data were collected from structured interviews, administrative data, the 2000 U.S. Census data file and the Philadelphia police crime database. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify personal and environment characteristics that are associated with quality of life. Clients with diagnoses of schizophrenia, those with lower levels of psychiatric symptoms, those with higher levels of physical health status, and those with higher levels of perceived supportiveness with staff had higher levels of quality of life. Findings of this study suggested that clients' clinical characteristics and consumer staff relationships can be important variables for understanding quality of life among supported housing residents. Factors associated with quality of life identified in this study may help service providers design and plan services to promote quality of life and stable independent living in the community of supported housing residents.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.83-90
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is a descriptive research study to confirm the difference in health empowerment according to the current status and general characteristics of North Korean women defectors residing in South Korea. The subjects of the study were 201 North Korean women defectors living in the local community, and data were collected from September 16 to September 21, 2020 using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. As a result of the study, the domain with the lowest score in the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors was "I know a positive method to cope with stress related to my health care." in the stress management question. Statistically significant differences were found in North Korean repatriation experience(t=3.77, p<.001), education(F=4.56, p=.012), economic status(t=-2.95, p=.004), subjective health status(t=-4.75, p<.001) and subjective stress(t=-2.47, p=.015). Based on the results of this study, alternatives should be prepared to strengthen the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors according to their individual characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and to identify its related factors among urban-dwelling adults. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 1,134 subjects aged $20\sim91$, who participated in 'Survey on the health status and demand for health' in two cities of Korea (Dong-gu, Gwangju and Suncheon-si, Jeollanamdo). The HRQOL was measured using the EQ-5D instrument and EQ-5D index scores were calculated by two Korean valuation study model using time trade-off method. Results: The mean EQ-5D index scores for all subjects were $0.865{\pm}0.218$ (model A), and $0.921{\pm}0.170$ (model B). The EQ-5D index score was significantly different according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, income, and health security system), self-rated health condition, health-related psychological assessments (enough sleep, fatigue rate, stress rate, and degree of satisfaction on the residence). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, marital status, income, coverage of medical insurance, self-rated health condition, and fatigue rate were significantly related common statistical factors of HRQOL in two Korean valuation study model. Conclusion: Among the adults residing in urban environment, the HRQOL was significantly lower on the subjects with following conditions: higher age, being alone without a spouse as a result of death, divorce or separation, low income, medical aid program, poor self-rated health condition, and chronic fatigue. In order to improve the urban adults' quality of life, healthcare policy and health promotion program must be developed with considerations to factors related to the HRQOL.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.51
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• pp.45-87
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• 2017

In recent years, there were some who have conducted research on deriving the social and historical meanings of records through the analysis of specific records collections. This trend is an attempt to pay attention to human actions in the society and to read the society again through the records created by such actions. In this study, I derive various meanings and values of these records through the analysis of the "Laos Renewable Energy Support Activities" collection. Moreover, I study how the collection was reconstructed by the Human and Memory Archives. The "Laos Renewable Energy Support Activities" is the personal record of the donor who led the project, and contains the process and results of the project. Through this collection, I was able to look at the life of the donor as a foreign aid activist in Laos and realized his values. Furthermore, through the business process record, I was able to discover the implications of climate change response overseas aid projects. In addition, I was able to look at the culture and environment of Laos through the eyes of the donor who has been residing there for a long time.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

This study employs photovoice research methodology to investigate adolescents' experiences in sibling relationships and to analyze the impact of sibling interactions on their development and growth. The participants comprised eight high school students with one sibling (four males and four females) residing in the Incheon region. The research process encompassed several stages: participant recruitment, orientation, photovoice activity (focus group interviews), data analysis, and conclusion derivation. During the photovoice activity, participants engaged in a narrative process of photographing, interpreting, and discussing their experiences. The narratives were categorized into four primary themes: structure and environment, emotional interactions, roles, and parental subsystems. The conclusions drawn from the study are as follows: First, the similarity formed in sibling relationships during adolescence contributes to psychological stability. Second, roles and expectations based on birth order can cause stress for adolescents, indicating the need for equitable role adjustments within the family. Third, conflict in sibling relationships is crucial for enhancing problem-solving and social relationship skills. Lastly, consistent parenting attitudes significantly affect the emotional well-being of siblings. This study emphasizes the significance of fostering a deeper understanding of human development and family relationships through an exploration of adolescent sibling dynamics within home economics education.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.410-419
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• 1999

This study sought to figure out women's functional status after childbirth under the Sanhujori. Functioal status was defined as the women's readiness to assume infant care responsibilities and resume her usual activities including household, social and community, self-care and occupational activity. A convenience sample of 211 women who are in the postpartal period of the range from 1 week to 3 months above and residing in Seoul. Korea was studied from January, 1997 to December, 1998 for two years. Mean age of respondents was 29.9 years and mean of the present postpartal period was 7.5 weeks. The present postpartal period was of 5-8 weeks 26.5%, 3-4weeks 26.1%, 9-12 week 23.7% and below 2 weeks 7.1%, 32.7% of women had a job and the mean period of return to job was 2.76 weeks. During Sanhujori the non professional care giver was family members from women's maiden home 73.5% and only 2% of husband. The period women needed for the recovery from now was 5.39 weeks and it means that women need 12.9weeks for recovery after childbirth. For the present subjective health status after childbirth, bad was 20.2%, good 18.3 and average 61.5% and for the recovery status, completely recovered 29.5%, slightly 61.8% and rarely 8.7%. The mean of functional status at the 7.5weeks was baby care activity 3.65, household 2.57, self-care 2.46, occupational 2.44 and social 1.53 in rank. Except baby care the functional status was generally low or very low. The related factors to the functional status were the period and subjective evaluation of Sanhujori women experienced, the present period of postpartum, and subjective feeling of recovery. This result strongly reflects the effects of Sanhujori culture and Sanhujori per se on women's postpartal life including functional status and reconfirmed the relationship between health status and the experience of Sanhujori after delivery as the previous findings from various study showed. It provides a challenge to the professional care givers to research further on the effects of Sanhujori on the health status, health recovery after abortion or delivery from the various aspects through the cross-sectional and longitudinal research for the refinement of the reality of Sanhujori not only as cultural phenomenon but as an inseparable factor influencing in women's postpartal healthy adaptation and for the appropriateness of intervention and quality of care for desirable health outcome.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.397-402
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between axial length (AL) and anthropometric parameters in Korean children. Methods: This study included 40 urban school children aged 11-12 years (mean age, $11.95{\pm}0.22$ years; 45.0% girls) residing in Seoul, South Korea. AL (using partial coherence laser interferometry), corneal radius, refractive error, height (m), and weight (kg) were measured. Body mass index (BMI $[kg/m^2]=weight/[height]^2$) and degree of obesity (DO[%]=[actual weight standard weight]/standard weight) were calculated. Furthermore, the number of hours spent reading, watching television, and using a computer every day was determined using a detailed questionnaire. Results: The students had a mean spherical equivalent refraction of $1.06{\pm}0.84$ D. Weight (r=0.427, p=0.006), BMI (r=0.508, p=0.001), and DO (r=0.371, p=0.018) showed a significant positive correlation with AL. Furthermore, longer AL was significantly associated with heavier weight (p=0.041), and higher BMI (p=0.015), and higher DO quartiles (p=0.042). After adjust for age, sex, and near-work activities, multivariate linear regression models showed that weight, BMI, and DO were still significantly associated with AL. Among the near-work activities, daily reading time was significantly associated with AL. Conclusions: AL was positively related to weight as well as daily reading time in Korean urban school children.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2004

The comet assay (also called the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay) has been widely used for detecting DNA damage and repair in individual cells. Since the conventional methods of evaluating comet assay data using frequency statistics are unsatisfactory we developed a new quantitative measure of DNA damage/repair that is based on all information residing in the dose/time-response curves of a comet experiment. Blood samples were taken from 25 breast cancer patients before undergoing radiotherapy. The comet assay was performed under alkaline conditions using isolated lymphocytes. Tail DNA, tail length, tail moment and tail inertia of the comet were measured for each patient at four doses of $\gamma$-rays (0, 2, 4 and 8 Gy) and at four time points after irradiation (0, 10, 20 and 30 min) using 100 cells each. The resulting three-dimensional dose-time response surface was modeled by multiple regression, and the second derivative, termed 2D, on dose and time was determined. A software module was programmed in SAS/AF to compute 2D values. We applied the new method successfully to data obtained from cancer patients to be assessed for their radiation sensitivity. We computed the 2D values for the four damage measures, i.e., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and examined the pairwise correlation coefficients of 2D both on the log scale and the unlogged scale. 2D values based on tail moment and tail DNA showed a high correlation and, therefore, these two damage measures can be used interchangeably as far as DNA repair is concerned. 2D values based on tail inertia have a correlation profile different from the other 2D values which may reflect different facets of DNA damage/repair. Using the dose-time response surface, other statistical models, e.g., the proportional hazards model, become applicable for data analysis. The 2D approach can be applied to all DNA repair measures, Le., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and appears to be superior to conventional evaluation methods as it integrates all data of the dose/time-response curves of a comet assay.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.33-49
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• 2014

Environmental concern has been an important issue for a few decades, and the extent of consumer demand for eco-friendly consumption has been increased. This study seeks to investigate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for eco-friendly cosmetics. This study evaluates how much more a consumer is willing to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics and examines significant factors influencing consumers' WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Consumers' WTP is measured using four different ecofriendly cosmetics: low-priced skin care cosmetics, low-priced makeup cosmetics, high-priced skin care cosmetics, and high-priced makeup cosmetics. This study uses the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate consumer's WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Survey questions were designed using both dichotomous choice and payment card method of CVM. Through face to face interviews and on-line surveys, the data were collected from women between 20 and 49 years old residing in Seoul and Kyeonggi area, Korea, in May 2010. A total of 226 questionnaires (132 from interviews and 94 from on-line) were included for the analytical sample in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, T-test and Log-Logit analysis. The findings are as follows: First, the WTP measured by dichotomous choice method was estimated using the Log-Logit analysis. The results showed that the estimated WTP for low-priced skin care cosmetics was 19,152 won, which was 27.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won. For low-priced makeup cosmetics, the estimated WTP was 18,524 won, and its green premium was 21.0%. The estimated WTP for high-priced skin care cosmetics was 59,128 won, which was 18.3% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics was 57,666 won, and its green premium was 15.3%. Second, the WTP measure by payment card method was estimated using descriptive analysis. The results showed that the respondents were willing to pay 17,955 won for low-priced skin care cosmetics, which was 19.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won and 17,595 won for low-priced makeup cosmetics, which was 17.3% higher than the reference price. For high-priced skin care cosmetics, the average WTP was 56,950 won which was 13.9% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics, the average WTP was 55,650 won, which was 11.3% higher than the reference price. Overall, the WTP was higher in order of low-priced skin care, low-priced makeup, high-priced skin care, and high-priced makeup. It means that consumers decide degree of premium based on the price and the attributes of eco-friendly products. Third, the findings showed that age, monthly income, and having children or not were statistically significant factors that influenced consumers' willingness to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics. Other explanatory variables such as education, marital status, job, purchase experience of eco-friendly products, and environmental concerns did not show any statistical significance. The major contribution of this study is the investigation of the value of green attributes of the products by using CVM. Unlike most previous researches, this research used two methods of CVM, the dichotomous choice and the payment card, so it enhanced the reliability of research. According to this study, consumers showed price sensitivity when they pay green premium. These findings can be used as useful information to establish marketing strategies for green cosmetics.